# NTSB CEN10LA399: Beech V35A, N9447S, Truth or Consequences, NM, July 11, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 11, 2010, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Truth or Consequences, NM - Coordinates: 33.259166, -107.161941 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2592&lon=-107.1619&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 7, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 76637 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA399 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76637/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76637 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA399 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech V35A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=1151544), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech V35A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1151544), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech V35A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=1151544), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis While in flight over a lake, the pilot noted a loss of engine power and began troubleshooting the issue. The pilot was eventually able to restore engine power but not before having to perform a forced landing to the water. The airplane was substantially damaged during the forced landing. When the airplane was recovered from the water, the left fuel tank was empty and the right fuel tank was full. There was no fuel slick observed on the water. A postaccident examination of the airplane, engine, and related systems did not reveal any anomalies that would have explained the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On July 11, 2010, approximately 1230 mountain daylight time, a Beech V35A, N9447S, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Elephant Butte Lake near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The private pilot was not injured. The local flight departed the Truth or Consequences Municipal Airport (KTCS), Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, approximately 1225. In a telephone conversation with the pilot, he said he was overflying the lake when the engine started losing manifold pressure. The pilot aimed the airplane towards land and began to troubleshoot the problem. Specifically, he stated that he switched the fuel selector valve to the right fuel tank. The engine started producing power again just prior to impacting the water. During the forced landing the main carry through spar was bent and the fuselage was wrinkled. When the airplane was recovered from the water, the fuel selector valve was selecting the left fuel tank. Further examination revealed that the left fuel tank was empty and the right fuel tank was full of fuel. There was no fuel slick observed on the water consistent with the presence of fuel leaking from the airplane. According to the pilot, he had 65 gallons of fuel added just prior to the flight and both fuel tanks were reported to be full. The pilot stated that he did not visually verify his fuel quantity and he did not sump either fuel tank. In a statement received from the airport, the fuel attendant confirmed that he topped off both fuel tanks for a total of 64.2 gallons of fuel. He recalled particularly the sounds of the fuel initially splashing at the bottom of the fuel tanks, as both were "close to empty." The fueling was performed the day prior to the accident. A subsequent examination of the airplane, engine, and related systems, conducted under the observation of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9447S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9447S-2013-05-23), registration cancelled 2013-05-23, S/N D-8763, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH V35A - Registry model: [Beech V35A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35a) (registry code 1151544) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-8763 - Airframe hours: 5493 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KTCS, Truth or Consequences, NM - Destination: KAEG, Albuquerque, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 24, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 13,500 total, 5,500 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KTCS ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100711037239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100711037239A), Jul 11, 2010: Beech V35A, Elephant Butte, NM, Substantial damage. On July 11, 2010 at 1230 MDT, N9447S, a Beech BE-V35A, landed in Elephant Butte reservoir after suffering a power loss. The pilot was the only occupant of the… ## Other investigations on N9447S (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB DEN01LA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA047), Feb 4, 2001: Beech V-35A (N9447S), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inattention during night taxiing, which resulted in his airplane impacting a parked airplane. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76637. 462 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 426 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335074&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Inspector Statement for Engine Inspection (item 2, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338166&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Inspector%20Statement%20for%20Engine%20Inspection-Master.PDF - Fuel Service Statement - CEN10LA399 (item 3, .PDF, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338167&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Service%20Statement%20-%20CEN10LA399-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.